A winter storm watch is in effect and the National Weather Service out of Pendleton is warning motorists that travel in parts of the Lower Columbia Basin could be treacherous.
The winter storm watch goes into effect late Thursday night through late Saturday night. The weather service said heavy snow is possible with accumulations up to 10 to 18 inches with wind gusts as high as 45 mph., that could bring down tree branches.
The storm watch covers the Lower Columbia Basin in Oregon, the eastern Columbia River Gorge of Oregon and Washington, the Foothills of the Northern Blue Mountains of Oregon and North Central Oregon.
The weather service reports that “travel could be very difficult to impossible. Patchy blowing snow could significantly reduce visibility. The hazardous conditions could impact morning and evening commutes.”
